Israeli forces detain 13 Palestinians in West Bank raids

Oct. 8, 2017 4:22 P.M. (Updated: Oct. 9, 2017 11:00 A.M.)

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained at least 13 Palestinians during predawn military raids across the occupied West Bank on Sunday, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) said in a statement.

According to a translation of the statement by Wafa news agency, at least six Palestinians were detained in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron, two in the southern Bethlehem district -- including a 19-year-old, two in the Ramallah area in central part of the territory, and three others in the northern Nablus district.

Clashes reportedly broke out between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in al-Mahd square in Bethlehem city, where the Israeli army used tear gas canisters and stun grenades against the local residents, however, no injuries were reported.

The Israeli army spokespersons office said only 11 Palestinians were detained overnight, when a gun and two makeshift weapons were also allegedly seized in the Hebron area.

Israeli forces detained 431 Palestinians over the course of the month of September, including 98 children, 11 women, and three journalists,according to a joint report released Sunday by Palestinian prisoners' rights group Adameer, PPS, and the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights.

The majority, 133, were detained in the Jerusalem district, while 60 were detained from the Hebron district, 45 from the Nablus district, 40 from the Ramallah district, 38 from the Jenin district, 28 from the Bethlehem district, 15 from the Tubas district, 10 from the Salfit district, nine from the Tulkaram district, seven from the Jericho district, and six from the Gaza Strip.

The report documented that the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails reached 6,300 prisoners, including 57 female prisoners, 10 underage girls, approximately 300 children, and 450 administrative detainees -- prisoners detained without charge or trial. In the month of September, the occupation authorities issued 68 administrative detention orders, 24 of which were new orders.

"The four organizations strongly condemn Israel's gross and systematic violations of international law, and its disregard for the rights of Palestinian detainees. We also condemn the continuing occupation authorities' disregard of the legal guarantees provided by international legal regulations," the report said.